For Immediate Release
December 21, 2006

MCGUINTY LIBERALS REFUSE TO MEASURE JUSTICE SYSTEM

QUEEN’S PARK – Today in the Ontario Legislature the McGuinty Liberals defeated a Bill, introduced by Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, which would require an annual report on Ontario’s justice system.

“The Liberals are afraid that if they track statistics people will realize there is a problem, but Ontarians know our justice system isn’t working,” said Hardeman. “There are too many dangerous offenders being released on bail. Ignoring the numbers doesn’t change that.”

John Tory’s private members’ bill, Truth and Transparency in the Justice System Act, would change the Courts of Justice Act so that the Attorney General would annually report to Ontarians on the justice system. The report would detail the number of people charged with violent offences, bail violations, sureties collected, plea bargaining details, and several other types of statistics about the functioning of the justice system.

The Bill was defeated during second reading when all of the Liberal members in the house, except two, voted against it.

“We have to do everything possible to make our streets safer for Ontario families,” said Tory. “We hear disconcerting stories every day about our justice system but right now the government refuses to keep track of the overall picture. Right now we keep track of how many eggs are laid each year in Ontario but not important bail and sentencing information.”

The Bill has already been endorsed by several victims’ rights advocates. “This Bill will give Ontarians the truth about how their justice system is working – and how it’s not – which is the blueprint for making real improvements that protect people who don’t break the law,” said Scott Newark, Former Vice Chair and Special Counsel to the Ontario Office for Victims of Crime.

John Tory’s Bill follows on the Progressive Conservative Opposition day motion from November 28 which also called on the government to get tough on bail and start collecting statistics on the justice system.

Over the last few years there have been an alarming number of cases where people accused of violent crimes have either disappeared or committed another crime while released on bail.

“The McGuinty Liberals are once again trying to duck an issue to help their reelection campaign instead of taking action to help the people of Ontario,” said Hardeman.

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For more information, contact:
Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(416) 325-1239